Soho Action Plan
Bordered by Oxford Street, Regent Street, Shaftesbury Avenue and Charing Cross Road, Soho has a thriving night scene. Newcomers to the area invariably see it as a clubbing and drinking venue, but there is much more to the area.
The challenge
We want to help the area achieve its full potential and at the same time preserve Soho's unique character.
Where are we now?
The Soho Action Plan was adopted in June 2007 and is available to download here.
The plan aimed to address resident concerns, improve community facilities and support small independent businesses and the creative industries. The Council works with a local Steering Group made up of local residents, businesses, charitable organisations and community groups, who meet to hear updates on progress and raise any issues in the local area.
Since June 2007, we have been working on 65 actions set out in the plan under the following themes:
- Order
- Opportunity
- Enterprise
- Renewal; and
- One Soho
What has been happening?
- Working closely with the Soho Caring Agencies Forum. The Forum has developed a 'Time Bank' to encourage volunteering activities across all communities in Soho.
- The roll out of the Neat Street initiative which identifies and removes unnecessary street clutter
- The Soho Living City Project aims to create a 'blue print' for City Management by working with a range of partners including the Police to renew the area, making it a better and safer place to live, work and visit
- Working with the Met Police and care agencies to target anti social behaviour
- Initiatives to design out crime, including improvements to lighting and recess doorways
- Development of strategies to deal with problem premises and also illegal street trading
- Development of a Business Crime Prevention initiative
- Commissioning a feasibility study for a LGBT Centre of Excellence
- Completion of a report 'Retrofitting Soho' making key recommendations as to how to make Soho more sustainable.
- Exploring the possibility of developing retrofit building guidance for the historic environment in Soho.
- Improvements and development of street markets in the Berwick Street area including the introduction of a pilot ‘Food Lovers’ Saturday market on Rupert Street
Looking ahead:
Of the 65 initiatives that Action Plan aimed to deliver, approximately 80% have either been delivered, are on going; or are underway.
The key to our success has been partnership working. We will continue to work with our partners including:
- The Met Police to provide improvements to order and safety for residents, businesses and visitors
- Westminster PCT to providing improvements in health and well being
- Local businesses in the area such as the Berwick Street and Rupert Street Market traders
- Local community groups
- We are also working in partnership with landowners such as Shaftesbury and Soho Estates to provide improvements to the streetscape
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